Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to promote economic cooperation between the UK and Pakistan.

The UK and Pakistan's economic relationship is supported by strong business links and people-to-people ties. The UK's new Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) ensures that 94% of goods exported from Pakistan are eligible for duty-free access to the UK, saving £120 million in tariffs on exports. On 6 June, Lord Ahmad met with Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar to discuss trade. On 20 June the Minister for Development, Andrew Mitchell, spoke with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar about the importance of promoting economic stability in Pakistan.